Tramway system.



W. BRADFORD.

TRAMWAY SYSTEM, APPLICATION FILED arms, 1908.

904,245. Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THENDRRIS PETERS C47,, WASHINTION, v c.

W. BRADFORD.

TRAMWAY SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED mums, 1908.

904,245. Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Q 25 1 mi iii I L l WITNESSES 1m: NORRIS PEIERS 50., wAsHmoron, n c.

WAGER BRADFORD, OF WESTERNVILLE, NEW YORK.

TRAMWAY SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1'7, 1908.

Application filed. January 23, 1908. Serial No. 412,317.-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVAGER BRADFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVesternville, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tramway Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates broadly to tramway systems, but more particularly it concerns certain improvements tending to especially qualify such systems for use in connection with mines and other subterranean excavations and passage ways.

This invention has in view, among other objects, the provision of a system of the nature disclosed, which will be characterized by simplicity of construction, eheapness of installation, and efiiciency, durability and economy in service.

Other objects and advantages will be in part obvious, and in part pointed out hereinaft-er.

In the annexed drawings, wherein is illustrated by way of example preferred embodiments of the various features of this invention, like characters of references refer to corresponding part-s throughout all views of which,

Figure 1 is an end elevation showing one manner in which certain features of this invention may be installed and used in a subterranean passage way. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal elevation showing further details of the several features appearing in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top or plan view showing one manner in which a switch may be inexpensively constructed. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the construction of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the same.

Continuing now by way of a more detailed description of the embodiments of this in vention disclosed by the drawings, it may be stated that this invention affords means for economically using mono-rail tramway systems in lieu of the more commonly used ordinary tracks laid on the floor of the passage ways. At the outset, it may be pointed out that mono-rail systems as heretofore em ployed have necessitated the use of suspension devices which, because of their cost, have been deemed prohibitive in many instances, notwithstanding the advantages otherwise inherent to mono-rail systems.

in the attachment of such hangers to the I roof of the passage way.

Now, this invention proposes, among other things, a simple and inexpensive means for suspending the rail. In this system, the rail is carried on a series of brackets which laterally extend from poles spaced along the passage way adjacent. a side wall thereof. This may perhaps be best understood by referring to Figs. 1 and 2, in which 1 denotes the ground work through which the passage way is out. As is well known to mining engineers, this passage way will ordinarily have a rough contour providing many pockets or niches in the material adjacent the side wall overhanging the passage-way. Now, this invention contemplates a series of upright members indicated on the abovementioned figures by 2, which members will be spaced apart at one side of the passageway as shown. These members 2 may, for the sake of economy, consist of poles or sticks formed of ordinary timbers of the nature commonly employed in mines, but of course they may be of sawed timber, if the same is commercially available. These timbers may, of course, vary widely in size, but under ordinary conditions it will suflice if they have a diameter of about six inches at their upper extremities. These timbers 2 will be secured in place by inserting their upper ends 3 in a suitable niche or seat a in the overhanging portion adjacent the side wall of the material of the passage-way. In many instances it will be unnecessary to especially form such niches 4t, since they will be provided by the roughness and irregularity common to blasted passage ways. hen not so provided, such niches may be cut away by the workmen at necessary intervals, the length of which in many cases in straight line work will ordinarily be about seven or eight feet.

The poles 2 will be cut of a length sufiicient to extend from the top of the niche to the bottom of the passage-way. That is to say, the loose stuff will be cleaned away from the floor adjacent the point indicated by 5, so that the pole may find a firm seating on such floor when positioned as indicated by Fig. 1. The pole having been cut to a driving fit, and having been driven home between the solid roof and the floor, Will be found to be most firmly seated, especially at its upper end, which, in this invention, will receive the main portion of the displacing strains. Of course, it may be advisable in some instances where a tight driving fit has not been otherwise provided to shore or wedge up the under end of the pole 2 at the point 5. A good timberman will fit the greater number of the poles without resorting to wedging. This wedging, however, can be easily accomplished when necessary by any good timberman, and as will be apparent, it should be done at the foot only, so that the head may be forced into the niche as far and as tightly as possible. It may also be observed that the upper end or head should be carefully contoured to fit the recessed roof, especially in the case of comparatively shallow pocket or niche, so that any lateral movement of the same will be impossible.

This invention further embraces a sup porting truss or frame work laterally extending from each of the side poles 2, so that it may terminate in the neighborhood of the vertical center plane of the passage way. As will be obvious, such trusses or frame works may be of diverse forms and constructions, but ordinarily I prefer the simple arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This comprises a compression member 6, which is bolted or otherwise aflixed to the pole at a point 7 intermediate the ends thereof, and which ordinarily extends in approximately a horizontal direction toward the center of the shaft or drift. A tension member 8 is secured to the pole near its upper end at 9, and inclines downwardly toward the outer end of the compression member 6, to which it is suitably secured by means of bolts or the like at 10. Preferably, the compression member 6 extends slightly beyond the point 10 so as to provide a ledge or seat 11, upon which may be carried the rail. l/Vhile the rail may be carried by either of these members, or by parts secured to the same, I ordinarily prefer to mount the rail directly upon the ledge of the compression member 6.

It is to be understood that, if desired, the rail may be mounted upon the tension mem her and the compression member 6 be upwardly inclined to support the member 8. Such construction would embody certain broad features of this invention, although that first described possesses certain advantages over the same.

It will, readily be understood by those skilled in this art that the foregoing construction is not only of a very inexpensive nature, and is well adapted to be installed by ordinary timbermen, but it provides an efficient mounting for the rail of the tramway. The weight of the load of the cars will be resolved into two main components by the truss works laterally extending from the poles; that is to say, compression strains will be transmitted through the horizontally extending member 6, and tension strains will be transmitted along the downwardly inclined member 8. As a consequence, the upper end of the pole will tend to be urged laterally outwardly,.but it will not be enabled to so move, owing to the fact that it is seated in a pocket or niche in the overhanging portion of the material of the passage way. On the other hand, the foot of the pole will receive only a small portion of the total strains, and these strains will merely tend to wedge the foot of the pole more tightly in place, since such foot will be urged toward the rising ground at the juncture of the side-wall and floor of the passageway. Accordingly it will be perceived that I have provided a comparatively rigid and stable system for suspending or supporting the rails.

It is to be noted that this supporting system may be used in open stopes away from any retaining wall, and that the member 2 or its equivalent may be upright or inclined either toward or away from the rail, without departing from the broader features of this invention.

Passing now to a further feature of this invention, reference should also be made to Figs. 1 and 2. This portion of my invention deals with the construction of the buckets or cars for carrying the ore. These cars are so constructed as to be particularly adapted for use in connection with mono-rail systems. As will be perceived from said figures, these cars, especially when utilized for transporting relatively large quantities of the ore, will be mounted from two or more small trucks or bogies, each of which bogies comprises a pair of circumferentially grooved wheels 1%, which are adapted to ride upon the rail 13. These wheels are capried by journals 15 which laterally extend from the opposite extremities of a T-shaped member 16. Of course, the journals may be provided with roller or ball bearings, if desired. The depending leg 17 of each of these T-shaped members is vertically pivoted to a suspension member 18 having depending ends 19 pivotally secured to corresponding ends of the bucket 20, as indicated by 21. The pivots 22 constituting the attachment of the bogies to the suspension member may be so located with respect to the center of gravity of the dumping bucket 20 as to facilitate the rotation of the same about such pivots for the purposes of dumping. A suitable catch such as that indicated by 23 in Figs. 1 and 2 may be mounted on a depending leg 19 of the suspension member 18, so as to engage with a complementary lug carried by the dumping bucket, whereby the same may be prevented from prematurely overturning and dumping.

It will be noted that this construction enables the truck or dumping car to negotiate any curve whatever, inasmuch as the bogies are enabled to independently swing into conformity with such curve. At the same time, the employment of a plurality of wheels greatly reduces the burden of each wheel and enables the truck or dumping car to be propelled very readily by a single boy, whereas it generally takes at least two boys to push a car of even less tonnage capacity. It will also be perceived that by virtue of the fact that the cars are suspended in this system it is a very simple matter to discharge the contents of these cars through a suitable discharge chute.

In ordinary cases, it will be found expedient to so construct the track that the cars may be readily switched from one to another. To this end, I may utilize the switching mechanism illustrated more clearly by Figs; 3, 4 and 5. In such figures 25 denotes a main line track, and 26 and 27 may denote branches thereof leading into opposite portions of the mine or other excavation in which this invention is employed. 2S denotes a swinging track section having a vertical pivot at 29, whereby it will be in permanent connection with track 25, and having its free or swinging end supported from an overlying suspension device 81. The latter may be hung from the roof of the excavation by means of suitable legs 32 secured in any proper manner. Likewise, 38 indicates suspension means for the above mentioned sections of the tramway. The free end 30 of the swinging section 28 is carried by a rider 8%, which, at its upper end, provides a sliding or roller bearing 35 with the suspension member 31. This enables the swinging section 28 of the track to be readily brought into immovable connection with either of the branches 26 or 27 when brought into alinement. The connection may be fixed by means of a sliding or swinging fish plate diagrammatically illustrated by 36.

It will thus be seen that I have devised a system well adapted to attain the several objects and ends in view. The advantages of the system are obvious, but it may be pointed out that the track being suspended is clear of acid or other corrosive waters; is also free from spill by the stope boxes, and is not only unafiected by the irregularities of the ground, but is even better graded than the ordinary track. Furthermore, there is no chance for the truck or dump car to overturn or leave the track and interfere with the entire surface, and inasmuch as the dumping cars are so mounted as to turn turtle at the shaft bins, it is feasible to handle larger quantities of ore than could be done with other systems.

It will, of course, be apparent that this system is adapted with any work which can be done with a ground level road and can be installed in stopes, raises and winzes irrespective of the dip of the roof, so that the ground can be laid at the place where it was broken and sent straight off to the station without the very considerable handling heretofore usually required.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tramway system of the nature disclosed, comprising, in combination, a spaced series of upright poles disposed along the face of a retaining wall, said poles having their upper extremities seated in complementary recesses in the material of said wall and a track carried by said poles.

2. A tramway system of the nature disclosed, comprising, in combination, a spaced series of upright poles disposed along the face of a retaining wall, said poles having their upper extremities seated in complementary recesses in the material of said wall, and a track suspended from the upper portions of said poles.

3. A system of the nature disclosed, comprising, in combination, a spaced series of upright poles arranged in proximity to a re taining wall and having their upper extremities embedded in overhanging portions of said wall, a frame work laterally extending from the upper portions of each of said poles, and a continuous rail carried by the outer portions of said frameworks.

t. A system of the nature disclosed, comprising, in combination, a series of upright poles arranged adjacent a side wall of an underground passageway, said poles having their uppermost extremities embedded and anchored in the overhanging contiguous face of said passageway, a triangular framework laterally extending from each of a plurality of said poles, and a continuous track carried by said frameworks.

5. A system of the nature disclosed, comprising, in combination, a series of upright I carried by the outer portions of said frame poles along one side of a subterranean passageway, said poles having their uppermost extremities seated within complementary recesses in the overhanging portion of said passageway, a member extending laterally from an intermediate connection with each of said poles, a downwardly inclined tension member connecting the upper portion of said pole with said first mentioned member, and a track suspended from the extremities of one of said members.

6. A system of the nature disclosed, comprising, in combination, an upright pole ar ranged adjacent a side wall of an underground passageway and having its upper extremity anchored in an overhanging portion of said passage way, the lower end of said pole being wedged against the floor of said passageway adjacent said side wall, a supporting member extending approximately horizontally from an intermediate connection with said pole, a rail carried by the free extremity of said supporting member, and a tension member connected respectively to the upper end of said pole and to an outer portion of said supporting member.

7. A tramway system of the nature disclosed, comprising, in combination, a spaced series of upright poles disposed along the face of a retaining wall, said poles having their upper extremities anchored to the material of said wall and having their lower extremities tightly abutting the floor at the foot of said wall, and a track carried by said poles.

8. A tramway system of the nature disclosed, comprising, in combination, the spaced series of upright poles disposed along the face of a retaining wall, said poles having their upper extremities anchored to the material. of said wall to prevent lateral movement and having their lower extremities tightly wedged against the floor at the foot of said wall, and a track suspended from the upper portions of said poles.

9. A system of the nature disclosed, comprising, in combination, a spaced series of upright poles arranged in proximity to a retaining wall, and having their upper extremities anchored to said wall and having their lower extremities wedged against the floor at the foot of said wall, a framework laterally extending from the upper portions of each of said poles, and a continuous rail works.

10. A system of the nature disclosed, comprising, in combination, a series of upright poles arranged adjacent a side wall above an underground passageway, said poles having their uppermost extremities anchored in the overhanging contiguous face of said passageway and having their lower extremities tightly wedged against the floor of said passageway, a triangular framework laterally extending from each of a plurality of said poles, and a continuous track carried by said frameworks.

11. A system of the nature disclosed, comprising, in combination, a series of upright poles along one side of a subterranean passageway, said poles having their uppermost extremities anchored to the overhanging portion of said passageway to prevent lateral movement and having their lowermost extremities tightly wedged against the floor of said passageway, a member extending laterally from an intermediate connection with each of said poles, a downwardly inclined tension member, connecting the upper portion of said pole with said first mentioned member, and a track suspended from the extremities of one of said members.

12. A system of the nature disclosed, comprising, in combination, a pole arranged adjacent aside wall of an underground passageway and sloping upwardly toward the opposite side wall of said passage way, said pole having its upper extremity anchored in an overhanging portion of said passageway to prevent movement toward said other side wall, the lower end of said pole being tightly wedged against the floor of said passageway adjacent said side wall, a supporting member extending approximately horizontally from an intermediate connection with said pole above the center thereof, a rail carried by the free extremity of said supporting member, and a tension member, connected respectively to said pole near the uppermost extremity thereof and to an outer portion of said supporting member near the point of support of said rail.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

WAGER BRADFORD. lVitnesses:

GEO. H. BALLOU, J. Q. A. BALLOU. 

